Volume 2 Issue 68 July 2000
FROM COMMISSIONER SCOTT ELLIS, 2ND AMER. BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Dad-burn it, I'm going on another business trip . . .
I've been recruited away from my old company, Aegis Communications Group, to go to work for a much bigger company, Convergys, to help them open a new computer technical support center in our county. That means I'm off on a business/training trip to Orlando from July 31-Aug. 19.
Keep sending me email, votes, trades and dues as normal. My wife will be home to steal - er - cash your checks. Our divisional alignment will be decided when I get back. PLEASE VOTE!!!
River City Renegades make first summer SABL cuts
Mike Resnick has cut Steve Kerr, Sherman Douglas and Eric Montross. If they played NBA minutes last season, they will be available to draft this fall.
Gotta pay your dues if you want the SABL blues . . .
It's the dog days of summer, but there are some important dates coming up for all SABL members, the most important of which is the Sept. 1 $20 dues deadline. Half of our coaches have not yet paid, but there's still plenty of time.
Also in September are roster cuts, which are due on Sept. 17. Remember that for every player cut under the 14-man limit, you get a draft pick.
Here are other important dates to remember:
Sept. 1 - $20 dues for 1998-99 season due to Commissioner
11:59 p.m., Sept. 17 - Roster cuts due to Commissioner.
Oct. 1 - Pre-Season Rosters and available draftees due to Coaches.
11:59 p.m., Oct. 15 - Draft lists due to Commissioner. No trades from now until after draft.
1 p.m., EST, Oct. 21 - 1998 SABL Draft
11:59 p.m., Nov. 5 - Post draft trading period ends. Traded rosters must be used until Dec. 31.
Nov. 12 - Post Draft Rosters available to Coaches.
Nov. 30 - First trading period ends. Traded rosters must be used from Dec. 31 - Jan. 31.
Dec. 1 - 1999-2000 SABL Season Starts.
Also check our History and Records links again - I've updated them with even more trivia!
Another first for the SABL - division swapping! Vote on this innovative proposal ASAP!
Yes, fearless SABL coaches, you read that headline correctly. In the interests of keeping two SABL friends miserable, I am proposing that we swap the South and North Divisions of the SABL for next season. The South Division would move from the Royal to Classic Conference. The North Division would move from the Classic to the Royal Conference.
Why? Because I like confusion.
Actually, this course of action had its origin when our latest coach, Mike Resnick of River City, joined the league. Being from Davenport, IA, of course he had to be in the North Division with the other four Iowans. The meant Tom Jargo's beloved Miles Bulldogs, being from Minnesota, would have to move to the only available divisional slot left in the SABL in the East Division. However, Tom happens to hate Mark Feeney's guts. Mark is one of the Amazing SABL Feeneys that happens to coach the evil Bettendorf Druids.
I understand the Druid-Bulldog rivalry, because I also loath Galactic Coach Steve Walters. If I can't escape my nemesis, neither can the Druids or Bulldogs.
However, the five Iowans have to be together and all our other divisional alignments work geographically, so the only solution to keep these two enemies together is swapping the North and South divisions. But a big move such as this deserves a vote, so I'm asking all of our coaches to vote a simple "Yes" or "No" to this divisional swap and get me your votes by Aug. 15. I especially want to hear from the 10 coaches in the affected divisions.
Geographical stability is very important to any league. But I don't have a problem moving an entire division, if geographical stability within the divisions is maintained.
Who's trading?
11. Jams send D. Davis and their 3rd pick to McLean for Gugliotta, O. Harrington & Klein.
10. Miles sends Rice to Heat for Finney's 1st pick.
9. Heat sends Elie to Finney for Finney's 2nd pick.
8. Heat sends Baker, J. Jackson, K. Thomas and its 3rd pick and 2001 2nd & 3rd to Garden City for Laettner, Elie, Garrity, Garden City's 1st & 2nd and Garden City's 2001 1st.
7. Druids trade Horace Grant to Sublimity for Barros & Mark Strickland
6. Sublimity trades Iverson and its 1st pick to Chapel Hill for Houston and Chapel Hills' first picks in 2000 and 2001.
Renegades put guard Ron Mercer on the trading block
New River City Coach Mike Resnick is wasting no time in reshaping the old Meade Jayhawks franchise. He is putting Ron Mercer up for trade. Any interested coaches should contact Mike.
LEAGUE DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENTS
Where possible, divisional alignments will be made based only on geographic considerations.
Send me your votes for 1999-2000 SABL MVP ASAP!!!
Forgot to ask you for this when you voted on our All-Stars, but I need you to vote on a league MVP for 1999-2000. Check the stats, check the standings and then make your choices - I'd like a top three, 1-2-3, from each of ya' by Aug. 10 and thanks.
History revised for third time; Team Lineages up!
OK, I'd like you to check out our Histories and Records links one more time. I've updated things again, especially the Records link, which now has teach lineages and franchise moves all in one handy-dandy location. I've reprinted the lineage portion of the Records section below:
Team Lineages
Tom Gantert is the only coach in league history to coach three teams - South Jersey, the Michigan Gearjammers and an Unnamed team.
Steve Walters has coached two different franchises - The Galactic Gladiators and Galactic Thunder.
ROYAL CONFERENCE
WEST DIVISION
Rocky Mountain Renegades (Brian Seaman)-Michigan Panthers (Bill Traxler) (West to North) -Garden City Gladiators (Josh Marquardt) (North to West)
Calgary Condors (Jeff Stahl ) (West to North) -Deerfield Kings (Doug Crandall) (North to West)
(Steve Brandvold) (North to West) -(Ted Berquist)-Finney Longhorns (Doug Dillingham) (West to South) (South to West)
Charlevoix Cutters (Allen Telgenhof/John Barkoviak/Bart Ewing) (North to South) -Holcomb Heat (Charlie Dillingham) (South to West)
(Steve Kuffrey)-Carbondale Young Punks (John Smith)-(North to South) (South to East) - Memphis Blues (Mike Feeney)-Philly Super Freaks (Gary Goldstein) (North to East) -Michigan Liberators (Matt LaClear)- (East to West) Sublimity Senators (Marc Schlotthauer)
EAST DIVISION
(Mike Weinstein)-(Nate Burns)-(Chuck Kirkwood)-(Jim Brady)-(Mike Rodgriguez)-Seattle Chieftains (Frank Pennylegion)-Miles Bulldogs (Thomas W. Jargo) (West to North) (North to East)
Dave Plisko-Blocher Bombers (West to East) (Nick South) -East Asia Dragons (Paul Bennett)
Brooklyn Tigers (Steve Feldheim) (North to East)
Third Coast Claymores (Steve Shaltz/Shane Hoverstein)-Richmond Raiders (Frank Rowley)
Pacific Predators (Mark Colman)-Akron Blimps (Dave Scott) (North to East)
CLASSIC CONFERENCE
SOUTH DIVISION
South Jersey Diamondbacks-(Tom Gantert/Matt Doran/Jeff McMillen)- (East to North) Motor City Maulers (Bill Robinson/Mike Saylor) -Chapel Hill Jams (Tommy Field) (North to South)
(Rob Howe)-(Geno Ford)-(Dan Ayala)-Michigan Gearjammers (Tom Gantert) (East to North) -Carolina Roughnecks (Cody Beard) (North to South) -McLean Nationals (Robert Storey) Jr
Deep Creek Dragons (Bob Lee/Matt Lamphear)-Tulsa Twisters (Phillip Creider) (West to South)
St. Lucie Aces (Scott Ellis)
Arizona Outlaws (Scott Childers) (South to North) -Galactic Thunder - (Steve Walters) (North to South)
NORTH DIVISION
(Ian Roach)-(Michael Robinson)-(Keith Sill)-(Will Aubrey)-Austin Grasers (Eric Everage) (West to East) -Great Lakes Magicians (Ron Karbowski/Dennis Derby) (East to North)
The Borg (Joe Spryszak/Tony Disibbio/Gary Grubbs) (East to North) -Meade Jayhawks (Leon Rogers) (North to South) (South to West) -Lansing Razors (Marc LaClear)-River City Renegades (Mike Resnick)
(MattPoulter)-(Dave Biren)-(Tom Gantert) (West to East) -Bettendorf Druids (Mark Feeney) (West to North)
Burgess Breakers (Phil Grabar) -Detroit Diesels (Tony Lucchi) -Davenport Dazzlers (Kevin Feeney) (West to North)
Galactic Gladiators (Steve Walters/Randy Hulett)-Tri-City Blackhawks (Chris Feeney) (West to North)
MOST COACHES TO A FRANCHISE - 7, Great Lakes Magicians
MOST FRANCHISE NAMES - 5, Sublimity Senators
MOST FRANCHISE MOVES - 4, Sublimity Senators
MOST USED CITY/STATE NAME - Michigan (3)
MOST USED NICKNAME - Gladitors (2)
Who's trading?
11. Jams send D. Davis and their 3rd pick to McLean for Gugliotta, O. Harrington & Klein.
10. Miles sends Rice to Heat for Finney's 1st pick.
9. Heat sends Elie to Finney for Finney's 2nd pick.
8. Heat sends Baker, J. Jackson, K. Thomas and its 3rd pick and 2001 2nd & 3rd to Garden City for Laettner, Elie, Garrity, Garden City's 1st & 2nd and Garden City's 2001 1st.
7. Druids trade Horace Grant to Sublimity for Barros & Mark Strickland
6. Sublimity trades Iverson and its 1st pick to Chapel Hill for Houston and Chapel Hills' first picks in 2000 and 2001.
SABL Hall Of Records is opened
Forget all the faulty records I've talked about in nearly four years as SABL Commissioner. I was drunk.
I've sobered up now and with meticulous research, the true SABL Team and Individual records are now up on our new Records link for your edification.
History of the SABL is now on our website!
I just knew saving all of our old newsletters would come in handy.
Thought you might enjoy this little project I just completed: Tracing team ownership and championships from the beginning of the SABL in July 1994 to today. Actually, we are an off-shoot of the 10-team, face-to-face First American Basketball League (FABL), founded by our first Commissioner Tom Gantert, which played its first season in 1993-94. I have no records of the FABL and of its only season in 1993-94.
The league decided to double in size in the summer of 1994, to 20 teams, and redraft from scratch. Every team's players were released and the league started all over as the Second American Basketball League in an October 1994 draft.
Also, my research has indicated that the SABL champions listed in our May 2000 website newsletter are NOT CORRECT. I apologize for my faulty memory. Age does things to your brain.
First off, a coach named Dave Plisko, who is no longer with us, has won the SABL Championship twice and he did that in the first two years of our existence (1994-95 and 1995-96). He was the only coach ever to win it two seasons in a row. I won it twice, but not twice in a row. Also, Brooklyn has only won one SABL Championship, although it has won several divisional and conference titles.
Here's a CORRECT list of SABL Champions by year:
2000: Galactic Thunder (Classic Conference) - 1999: St. Lucie (Classic) - 1998: Brooklyn (Royal) - 1997: St. Lucie (Classic) - 1996: Dave Plisko (Royal) - 1995: Dave Plisko (Royal)
Tony Disibbio DID NOT EVER win an SABL Championship, although he did win the North Division title in 1996.
Also, we DID NOT have an abbreviated 41-game season in the first year of our league - I got that mixed up with an old Strat baseball league I was in about 9 years ago. We've always played 82-game seasons.
And Steve Walters DID win another divisional title in the SABL. This year's divisional win was his second. His first was in 1996-97, when his Thunder was in the North Division and won it.
Also, we DID have a Coach Of The Year in 1995, as well as an MVP and Rookie Of The Year. But, if you want to find out just who did win and when, check out our new Histories link for the stories! As I find out or remember new historical tidbits, I'll add them. And if you remember something or find an error in my history, please let me know. I'll revise it ASAP.
Editor's Note: In researching this history, I discovered that I misnumbered our newsletters. I've added a couple of numbers to this newsletter, making it 68 instead of 66.
2000 Final Draft Order
Figuring in penalty points, this is the final SABL 2000 Draft Order:
1. Brooklyn 2. River City 3. Miles 4. Chapel Hill 5. Great Lakes 6. Akron 7. Tulsa 8. Holcomb 9. McLean 10. Richmond 11. Garden City 12. Finney 13. Davenport 14. Bettendorf 15. Sublimity 16. St. Lucie 17. Deerfield 18. Tri City 19. East Asia 20. Galactic
Classics romp to 116-97 win in All-Star Game 2
Grant Hill led the Classic Conference with 16 points in this win. Marbury had 9 assists. For the Royals, Kevin Garnett led his team with 16 points. Game 3 is up next. Could the Classic Conference stage its first-ever All-Star series sweep?
Resnick joins SABL, Feeneys' influence spreads
In a startling development, yet another Feeney relative, Dazzler Coach Kevin Feeney's nephew to be precise, Mike Resnick, has joined the league, taking over the Meade Jayhawk franchise. Mike's renamed the franchise the River City Renegades and the team is moving into the Feeney - er - I mean, the North Division, with the Miles Bulldogs moving to the East Division. This means the North Division is all Iowan, all the time!
Mike's address: 2518 North Clark, Davenport, IA 52804. Phone: 319-391-5938. Email: miker0113@aol.com. Send him a note or phone call of welcome to the SABL, which has truly become a family affair.
All-Star series underway, Classic wins first game
The best-of-seven 2000 SABL All-Star Series has started, with the Classic Conference winning Game 1 109-95.
The Classic's Stephon Marbury led all scorers with 18 points. Top scorer for the Royals was Sharef Abdul-Rahim with 15.
Back from my business trip, rarin' to go!
Just got back from a business trip to Dallas, TX. Let's catch up on SABL news!
Meade Jayhawks franchise available! Coach needed!
Marc LaClear will not be joining us in the SABL after all. That means the Jayhawks franchise is available for the bargain price of $20! That's right sports fans, you can have your very own SABL team for the meager annual league dues of $20.
If you're interested in joining the SABL, email or phone the Commissioner, that's me, Scott Ellis, and snap this Reggie Miller team up before it's too late!
And if any of our current coaches have a friend that would like a team, well, this is your chance to get them in the insanity that we all know and love as the SABL. Contact me ASAP!!!!
Steve Walters is 2000 SABL Coach Of The Year
In the closest voting in our league's history, Steve Walters nosed out Mark Feeney and Paul Bennett to claim this year's SABL Coach Of The Year honors.
Mark's Dynamic Druids held on to the North Division lead until the last two weeks of the season, an extraordinary accomplishment for a Bettendorf team that did not really have the best talent in his division. It was a masterful coaching job by the most Amazing Feeney in 1999-2000.
Paul Bennett was new to Strat basketball and the SABL this season, but that didn't stop him from steamrolling the rest of the Royal Conference and getting to the SABL Finals. He figured things out quickly, applied his knowledge on the East Asia Dragons efficiently and he certainly deserved consideration.
But my arch-enemy won out instead - Galactic Thunder Coach Steve Walters, the Brainiac of Strat-O-Matic, who assembled, via trades and drafting the stealth squad that beat the Aces in the Classic Conference and won its first SABL championship. He truly deserves the honor and I thank everyone who voted for our top three candidates. Congratulations Paul, Mark and Steve for coaching jobs well done.
2000 SABL All-Stars are named!
In spirited and close voting, our SABL coaches have named the 1999-2000 SABL All-Stars. And here they are, starters listed first:
ROYAL CONFERNCE
Guards - Brevin Knight (Finney) & Kobe Bryant (Finney)
Forwards - Abdul-Rahim (Deerfield) and Tim Duncan (Garden City)
Center - Patrick Ewing (East Asia)
Backups - Kevin Garnett (Akron), Steve Finley (Richmond), Allen Iverson (East Asia), Antoine Walker (East Asia), Jason Kidd (Philly), Keith Van Horn (Philly) & Mark Jackson (Richmond)
CLASSIC CONFERENCE - Eight of the 12 are Aces or Galactic
Guards - Gary Payton (Aces) & Stephon Marbury (Tri-City)
Forwards - Grant Hill (Aces) & Shawn Kemp (Galactic)
Center - Shaquille O' Neal (Aces)
Backups - Scottie Pippen (Galactic), Alonzo Mourning (McLean), David Robinson (Aces), Rasheed Wallace (Chapel Hill), Karl Malone (Aces), Terrell Brandon (Galactic) & Charles Barkley (Galactic)
The annual SABL All-Star match-up is a best-of-seven series, traditionally played each year by those Amazing Feeneys of Iowa's corn country. They will give us a report when finished. Thanks to everyone for voting!